Quick action jack



Feb. 20, 1962 D. s. WEISS 3,022,043

QUICK ACTION JACK Filed Sept. 16, 1960 &

INVENTOR. Dewey S. Weiss Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 Blore ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,022,043 QUICK ACTIONJACK Dewey S. Weiss, 4434 SE. 25thAve., Portland, Greg. Filed Sept. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 56,397 6 Claims.(Cl. 254-98) The present invention comprises a quick action jack whichmay be rapidly extended for use, or rapidly collapsed following usethereof. While the jack is herein illustrated as comprising a device tobe permanently affixed to a part of a vehicle, such as to the drawbar ofa semi-trailer, it is to be appreciated that the device may be adetachable jack adapted to be temporarily disposed between a portion ofany body to be lifted and the supporting surface from which the body isto be raised.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a trailer jackmounted permanently upon the drawbar portion of a semi-trailer, whichjack may be rapidly collapsed so as to elevate the ground-engagingportion thereof to a considerable distance above the ground withoutrequiring lengthy revolving of a crank handle, or to be rapidly loweredinto engagement with the ground while the trailer is supported by atractor, without requiring lengthy operation of a jack handle. Theadvantage of this construction isthat vehicle operators are, encouraged,to raise such an attached jack highenough above the road level'that itwould be very unlikely for the jack to strike .an object on the roadwhile the vehicle is moving. Prior devices depending entirely uponoperation of a jack.

handle to raise and lower the foot of the jack have'caused carelessoperators to leave the jack foot very close to the ground, with theresult that jacks are quite often torn loose or damaged while thevehicle is in movement.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent from inspection of the accompanying drawings taken inconnection with thefollowing specification wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout, and in which a preferred form of the presentinvention is illustrated and described.

In the drawings, PEG. 1 is a side elevation of the present invention asattached to a portion of a vehicle body;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. 1; r FIG. 3 is a vertical sectiontaken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, the view being taken on anenlarged scale, with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3; 1

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 55 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 66 of FIG.3; and

1 FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line '7--7 ofFIG. 3.

The jack of the present invention comprises a rigid, elongated firstmember 10, preferably comprising a cylinder or pipe section, the member10 having means thereon for association of the jack with a body to belifted, such as the welding pad 11 adapted to be welded to'a portion ofthe frame 12 of a vehicle. A second rigid,

longated member 14 is slidably guided for vertical movement on the firstmember 10, the second member preferably comprising a cylinder or sectionof pipe of such a diameter as to be slidable within the first member 1%.The members 10 and 14 are held against rotation with respect to eachother such as by means of a screw 15 mounted in the lower end of section16 and having its tip engaged in a longitudinal slot 16 in the member14. It will readily be appreciated that rectangular tubes would notrequire means other than their shape to prevent relative rotation of onetube with respect to the other, and that various forms of elongatedmembers may r 3,022,043 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 be provided. The member14 is provided with groundengaging means at its lower end, such as thewheel mounting clevis 17 and wheel 18 supported therein. The member 14is also provided with a laterally extending toot shelf 19 for a purposeto be explained.

in the illustrated example the first member 10 comprises a cylinderhaving a closure wall 20 at its upper end and being open at its lowerend. The second member 14 comprises a cylinder having an upper partition21 at its upper end and a lower partition 22 spaced downwardly from theupper partition. The upper wall 2% is provided with a vertical journal23 in which is rotatively journaled a reduced cylindrical portion 24 ofa vertically extending jack screw 25 which extends downwardly within thejack to a point adjacent the lower end of the member 16. The reducedportion 24 provides a shoulder 26 which engages a thrust bearing 27inserted between the shoulder 26 and the upper wall 2i The upperpartition 21 is provided with an opening 28 and the lower partition 22is provided with a vertically aligned opening 29, both of which have aninternal diameter siightly larger than the maximum diameter of the'jackscrew 25, so that the jack screw is held in alignment within the innermember 14. The lower end of the jack screw is provided with a reduced,threaded extension 30 on which is mounted a nut 31 held infixed positionby a cotter pin 32. The reduction of the lower end of the screw providesa shoulder 33, and a springretainer 34 is mounted on the reduced sectionbetween the shoulder 33 and the nut 31. A long coil spring 35 surroundsthe portion of the screw extending below thelower partition 22 and isretained under compression between the lower partition 22 and the springretainer 34. The spring 35 is extended when the'inner member 14 isretracted within the outer member 1 and fully compressed when the innermember is lowered to the greatest extent possible. The upper end of thescrew 25 is provided with a crank 36 whereby the screwrnay be rotated.

A partial nut 40 is mounted within the inner member between thepartitions 21 and 22, the partial nut having a vertical height less thanthe space between the partitions whereby the partial nut may havelimited vertical movement from a position close to or engaging the lowerpartition to a position close to or engaging the upper partition. Thepartial nut is so formed as to be capable of limited swingingmovementfrom and into engagement with the jack screw 25. In'order toelTect such movement the partial nut is provided with a pair of cars 41provided with vertically aligned rectangular openings 42. A rectangularrock shaft 43 passes through the openings 42 whereby the partial nut 40is longitudinally slidable on the rock shaft and'angularly fixed withrespect thereto. The upper end of the rock shaft is provided with areduced cylindrical portion 44 which is journaled in the upper wall 20,and a collar 45 is fixed to the upper end thereof by means of a lever 46projecting radially therefrom. The lower end of the rock shaft 43 isprovided with a cylindrical reduced portion 47 which is journaled in thespring retainer 34. The downwardly projecting lower portion thereofsupports a pin 48 extending radially therefrom and with which is engagedone end of a tension spring 49, the other end being engaged with a pin5t} projecting downwardly from the spring retainer 34. The spring 49 isso biased as to urge the partial nut 40 away from engagement with thejack screw'25, and manual operation of the lever 46 is required to throwthe partial out into engagement with the jack screw.

Abutment means are provided to hold the partial nut in engagement withthe jack screw when the partial nut is close to or adjacent the lowerpartition 22. In the preferred form the abutment means comprises anabutment having a horizontal upper surface and an inupper partition 21,the lower surface 61 of the partial nut may rest upon the surface 55 ofthe abutment means whereby the partial'nut is maintained in relativelyelevated position and held away from engagement with the jack screw bythe spring 49. This is accomplished, when the ground-engaging roller 18is fully elevated, by stepping V 7 upon the foot shelf 19 and pressingdownward until the nut strikes the upper partition 21, whereupon thespring 49 snaps the nut out of engagement with the screw. Continuedpressure of the foot on the foot shelf 19 moves the wheel intoengagement with the ground. While pressure is. maintained against thefoot shelf, the lever 46 may be operated to rock the rock shaft andthrow the gagement of said partial nut and said rockshaft, a springretainer mounted on the lower end of said jack screw, and a coil springsurrounding the portion of said jack screw projecting below said lowerpartition and compressed between said lower partition and said springretainer. 7

2. A quick action jackcomprising a rigid, elongated I outer tube adaptedto be engaged in upright condition partial nut into engagement with thejack screw, whereupon, when pressure against the foot shelf 19 isreleased, :the spring 35 causes relative lowering of the lock nut to aposition closely adjacent the lower partition 22. During such movementthe cam surfaces 55 and 60 force the threads of the nut into firmengagement with the threads of the jack screw. When the movement hasbeen accomplished the abutment means prevents separation of the nut andscrew whereupon the crank 36 may be operated to extend the wheel 18. Itwill require a revolution or two to again lower the wheel to engagementwith the ground, whereupon continued rotation of the crank 36 willelevatethe body. When the body is supported at its elevated position,such as by engagement of a tractor with a semi-trailer, the crank may bereversed a few turns until the wheel 18 is elevated a half inch or soabove the ground whereupon foot pressure applied to the foot shelf 19will relatively raise the nut with respect to the lower partition,thereby clearing the cam faces 56 and 60 and permitting the spring 49 tosnap the nut out of engagement, whereupon release of the pressure of thefoot from the foot shelf 19 will permit the spring 35 to elevate thewheel-to its maximum elevation.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the'presentinvention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that thesame permits of modification in detail and arrangement. I claim as myinvention all such modifications as come within the true spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim: g I. A quick action jack comprising a rigid, elongated firstmember adapted to'be engaged in upright condition with a body to-besupported by the jack, a rigid, elongated second member slidably guidedfor vertical movement on said first member, said second member projecting'downardly from said first member, ground-engaging .means at thelower end of said second member, a foot shelf projecting laterally fromsaid second member, an elongated jack screw journaledin the upper end ofsaid first member and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the lowerend of said first member, a crank mounted. on the upper end :of saidjack screw, an upper partition on said second member at the upperendthereof, a lower partition on said second member spaced downwardly fromsaid upper partition, said partitions each having an opening throughwhich said jack screw extends, 'a partial nut mounted between saidpartitions for limited swinging movement into and out of engagement.with said jack screw, saidpartial nut having a vertical dimension lessthan the distance between said partitions whereby said second member iscapable of limited vertical movement with respect to said first memberwhen said partial nut and jack screw are engaged, a manuallyoperable'rockshaft journaled in the upper end of said first -member andextending downwardly to a point adjacent the lower end of said jackscrew, means on said partial nut -.cfiecting longitudinally slidable andangularly fixed enwith a body to be supportediby the jack, a rigid,elongated inner tube siidably guided for vertical movement within saidouter tube, said outer tube being open at its lower end and said innertube projecting downwardly therefrom, ground-engaging means at the lowerend of said inner tube, a foot shelf projecting laterally from the lowerend of said inner tube, an elongated jack screw journaled in the upperend of said outer tube and extending downwardly into said inner tube toa point adjacent the lower end of said outer tube, a crank mounted onthe upper end of said jack screw, an upper partition in said inner tubeat the upper end thereof, a lower partition in said inner tube spaceddownwardly from said upper partition, said partitions each having anopening through'which said jack screw extends, a partial nut mounted insaid inner tube between said partitions for limited swinging movementinto and out of engagement with said jack screw, said partial nut havinga vertical dimension less than the distance between said partitionswhereby said inner tube is capable of limited vertical movement withrespect to said outer tube when said partialnut and jack screw arespring surrounding the portion'of said jack screw projecting below saidlower partition and compressed between said lower partition and saidspring retainer.

3. A quick action jack comprising a rigid, elongated outer tube adaptedto be engaged in upright condition with a body to be supported by thejack, a rigid, elongated inner tube slidably guided for verticalmovement within said outer tube, said outer tube being open at its lowerend and said inner tube projecting downwardly therefrom, ground-engagingmeans at the lower end of said inner tube, a foot shelf. projectinglaterally from the lower end of said inner tube, an elongated jack screwournaled in the upper end of said outer tube and extendmg downwardlyinto said inner tube to a point adjacent the lower end of said outertube, a crank mounted on the upper end of said jack screw, an upperpartition in said inner tube at the upper end thereof, a lower partitionin said inner tube spaced downwardly from said upper partition, saidpartitions each havingan'opening through which said jack screw extends,a partial nut mounted in said inner tube between said partitions forlimited swinging movement nto andout of engagement with said jack screw,said partial nut having a vertical dimension less than the distancebetween said partitions whereby said inner tube is capable of limitedvertical movement with respect to said outer tube when said partial nutand jack screw are engaged, a manually operable rockshaft journaled inthe upper end of said outer tube and extending downwardly through saidinner tube to a point adjacent the lower end'of said jack screw, meanson said partial nut effecting longitudinally slidable and angularlyfixed engagement of said partial nut and said rockshaft, a springretainer mounted on the lower end of said jack screw, a coil springsurrounding the portion of said jack screw projecting below said lowerpartition and compressed between said lower partition and said springretainer, and spring means urging said rockshaft to a position whereinsaid partial nut is disengaged from said jack screw.

outer tube adapted to be engaged in upright condition with a body to besupported by the jack, a rigid, elongated inner tube slidably guided forvertical movement within said outer tube, said outer tube being open atits lower end and said inner tube projecting downwardly therefrom,ground-engaging means at the lower end of said inner tube, a foot shelfprojecting laterally from the lower end of said inner tube, an elongatedjack screw journaled in the upper end of said outer tube and extendingdownwardly into said inner tube to a point adjacent the lower end ofsaid outer tube, a crank mounted on the upper end of said jack screw, anupper partition in said inner tube at the upper end thereof, a lowerpartition in said inner tube spaced downwardly from said upperpartition, said partitions each having an opening through which saidjack screw extends, a partial nut mounted in said inner tube betweensaid partitions for limited swinging movement into and out of engagementwith said jack screw, said partial nut having a vertical dimension lessthan the distance between said partitions whereby said inner tube iscapable of limited vertical movement with respect to said outer tubewhen said partial nut and jack screw are engaged, a manually operablerockshaft journaled in the upper end of said outer tube and extendingdownwardly through said inner tube to a point adjacent the lower end ofsaid jack screw, means on said partial nut efiecting longitudinallyslidable and angularly fixed engagement of said partial nut and saidrockshaft, a spring retainer mounted on the lower end of said jackscrew, a coil spring surrounding the portion of said jack screwprojecting below said lower partition and compressed between said lowerpartition and said spring retainer, and abutment means on said lowerpartition preventing separation of said partial nut from said jack screwwhen said partial nut and said lower partition are close together.

5. A quick action jack comprising a rigid, elongated outer tube adaptedto be engaged in upright condition with a body to be supported by thejack, a rigid, elongated inner tube slidably guided for verticalmovement within said outer tube, said outer tube being open at its lowerend and said inner tube projecting downwardly therefrom, ground-engagingmeans at the lower end of said inner tube, a foot shelf projectinglaterally from the lower end of said inner tube, an elongated jack screwjournaled in the upper end of said outer tube and extending downwardlyinto said inner tube to a point adjacent the lower end of said outertube, a crank mounted on the upper end of said jack screw, an upperpartition in said inner tube at the upper end thereof, a lower partitionin said inner tube spaced downwardly from said upper partition, saidpartitions each having an opening rough which said jack screw extends, apartial nut mounted in said inner tube between said partitions forlimited swinging movement into and out of engagement with said jackscrew, said partial nut having a vertical dimension less than thedistance between said partitions whereby said inner tube is capable oflimited vertical movement with respect to said outer tube when saidpartial nut and jack screw are engaged, a manually operable rockshaftjournaled in the upper end of said outer tube and extending downwardlythrough said inner tube to a point adjacent the lower end of said jackscrew, means on said partial nut efiecting longitudinally slidable andangularly fixed engagement of said partial nut and said rockshaft, aspring retainer mounted on the lower end of said jack screw, a coilspring surrounding the portion of said jack screw projecting below saidlower partition and compressed between said lower partition and saidspring retainer, cooperating cam means on said lower partition and saidpartial nut causing engagement of sai partial nut and said jack screw assaid lower partition relatively approaches said partial nut andpreventing separation thereof when said partial nut and lower partitionare relatively close together, and spring means for swinging saidpartial nut out of engagement with said jack screw when said partial nutand said upper partition are relatively close together.

6. A quick action jack comprising a rigid, elongated first memberadapted to be engaged in upright condition with a body to be supportedby the jack, a rigid, elongated second member slidably guided forvertical movement on said first member, said second member projectingdownwardly from said first member, ground-engaging means at the lowerend of said second member, an elongated jack screw journaled in theupper end of said first memher and extending downwardly to a pointadjacent the lower end of said first member, a crank mounted on theupper end of said jack screw, an upper partition on said second memberat the upper end thereof, a lower partition on said second member spaceddownwardly from said upper partition, said partitions each having anopening through which said jack screw extends, a partial nut mountedbetween said partitions for limited swinging movement into and out ofengagement with said jack screw, said partial nut having a verticaldimension less than the distance between said partitions whereby saidsecond member is capable of limited vertical movement with respect tosaid first member when said partial nut and jack screw are engaged,means for effecting limited swinging movement of said partial nut intoand out of engagement with said jack screw and limited longitudinalmovement of said partial nut between said upper and lower partitions, aspring retainer mounted on the lower end of said jack screw, and a coilspring surrounding the portion of said jack screw projecting below saidlower partition and compressed between said lower partition and saidspring retainer.

No references cited.

